How to Become a Football Scout
A career as a scout could be the right choice for you if you have ever dreamed of working in football.
There are many different facets of this job, including qualifications, experience, and travel. However, if you’re interested in pursuing this career, here are a few steps to follow to get started. Continue reading to learn more.
This job requires a solid understanding of football at all levels. You’ll need to be able to analyse the game, identify strong traits and communicate this information to others in a clear and concise way.
Aside from being knowledgeable about the game, you’ll also need to be flexible, adaptable and open to new ideas. The job may involve working long, unsociable hours and travelling.
Getting Started at a Football Scout
If you are passionate about football and have analytical skills, a career as a football scout might be for you. This job requires strong observation skills and the ability to read games well. You will also need to have excellent communication skills to communicate effectively with peers and managers. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Scouting youth leagues is a great way to begin. If you don’t have the time to attend a college program, there are many youth leagues where you can scout for free. Once you get into it, you can begin scouting the local U18s and Non-League football teams.
You’ll be surprised at how many people need specialised knowledge about football. You will learn about the business side of football as well as how to build relationships with players, coaches and parents.
Internships with Non-League and professional football teams are a great way for you to gain experience as a football Scout. You can also network with other scouts or industry professionals while you’re training.
Like any other profession, you must trust your instincts and use your eyes to become a successful football scout. You’ll also need to be able to evaluate players within the framework of a team.
What Qualifications Do You Need
There are many benefits to becoming a football scout, but you must have certain qualifications in order to do the job well. Aside from the obvious physical requirements, you must be a good judge of talent. Scouts for football must be able to analyse and have a winning mindset.
In addition to having these traits, you must also be able to communicate effectively with coaches and other staff members.
A qualification in talent identification is required to become a professional or semi-professional football scout. If you are interested in working internationally, you will need a document from the DBS. Other requirements include passing a CRB check and completing an application form. A football scout’s job is to report on and watch games, analyse statistics and present their findings to the club’s leadership.
There are a number of different courses you can take to become a scout. An FA Level 1 course provides an overview of basic principles of talent identification. This course covers match reporting, building relationships, analysing performance, and potential. This course is for aspiring scouts looking to work in professional football clubs. The course is approximately 10-30 minutes long and will help you get into the field.
Outside of the required FA courses, IPSO football has a fantastic range of online and classroom courses to teach you the fundamentals of scouting.
What Experience Do You Need to Be a Football Scout
The amount of experience you need depends on the level and for which club you want to work for.
Your role as a football scout is to observe games and report back on new talent to managers. You may have to talk to players, parents and managers as well as watch footage of players online. You may also be involved in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of potential signings. Experience as a football scout helps you identify the best players.
These are some tips to help you become a better football scout. Consider the pros and cons of this career.
A successful career requires experience, as you will need to know the levels players could ultimately play at. By watching lots of games at different levels you will begin to understand a player’s ability.
In addition, you must be a highly motivated individual with excellent interpersonal skills. As a football scout, you may also need to work hard and be flexible, as working hours are not always sociable.
Good communication skills and the ability to write reports are essential to being a successful football scout. You must be able to clearly explain your findings to coaches and decision-makers. You must also be able establish rapport with coaches and players and build an established network.
Most importantly scouting is about using facts and building your reputation as a football talent spotter.